During the run up to elections in April 2009, the government announced the BGF force scheme for all ceasefire groups. This rushed attempt to absorb ethnic militia groups into the national army meant these groups were required to give up most of their autonomy without the promised political discussions taking place. After several extensions of the deadline, the definitive deadline expired in Sept 2010, after which the government announced all ceasefires null and void. The run up to and eventual breakdown in the first round of ceasefires saw the military step up pressure on ethnic militia groups. economically: blocked Chinese border trade through the KIO s Laiza headquarters, refused to renew the operating licence of Yangon Airways run by the UWSA Chairman s son. politically: ordered the closure of all but two of the KIO liaison offices in government- controlled areas, barred a Kachin Political Party, KSPP, from registering and contesting in the 2010 elections, and referred to ceasefire groups as insurgents in the media. militarily: attacked the MNDAA (Kokang) and captured their headquarters (August 2009), many militia groups reported military build-up near their outposts and some have even been attacked - the worse now being in Kachin state and Northern Shan State. The government however changed its aggressive stance on August 18, 2011 when President Thein Sein pledged to make the ethnic issue a national priority, offering dialogue with all armed groups and dropping key preconditions for talks, namely the BGF requirement. Nevertheless the Border Guard Force scheme remains a part of the government s peace plan and is listed as point 8 in the Union level peace negotiations 8-points: To coordinate existence of only a single armed forces in accord with the Constitution. Description There is no official governmental document that defines their BGF policy. The people s militia force is mentioned in the Defense Services, Chapter 7, of the 2008 constitution. However, the 1 / 9
wording is vague and no details about the role of the people s militia are provided. 340. With the approval of the National Defence and Security Council, the Defence Services has the authority to administer the participation of the entire people in the Security and Defence of the Union. The strategy of the people s militia shall be carried out under the leadership of the Defence Services. According to a report by the Network for Democracy and Development called Civil and Military Administrative Echelon in Burma (August 2011), the structure and organization of the Border Guard Force and People Military Group are detailed below: Border Guard Force (BGF) is a regular military force and has a military structure like the Myanmar Army. Although the battalion commander is from the ethnic armed group, the Myanmar army is in total control over the activities of the BGF and work together during military operations. The BGF has a total of 326 personnel of which 3% are Myanmar army soldiers, including commanding officers and other rank officers. Among them, 30 soldiers from the Myanmar army including officers work together with ethnic soldiers in the battalion and take important administrative positions in the BGF. BGF battalion commanders can promote their soldiers and are allowed to use heavy weapons like motors provided by the Myanmar army. However a BGF battalion is only allowed to patrol in their active area while a Myanmar army battalion can be deployed freely is any area. For instance, a Myanmar army battalion under LID 88 in Magwe region can be deployed in Kachin State, while a Karen BGF cannot be deployed in Kachin State. 2 / 9
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People does troopers attend Myanmar The It the groups PMG However heavy also PMG. Myanmar not leaders does weapons. military and Military in have they army. There does a collecting not battalion army, are training a have not need Nevertheless Group is military permitted not have for an to information ranking allowed but provided example exact (PMG) fully structure to take to PMG participate number its system run to is by showing full patrol activities not about has and businesses the time a of less there Myanmar outside regular ethnic soldiers duty military are than PMG are way in monitored armed force their 100 no military army like and operations. active soldiers. headquarters like the groups and affairs is the BGF. by run area they from PMG for It in For like Myanmar is do and a the to only or group instance: the not soldiers finance are Myanmar camps army get responsible not leadership Army, do their allowed and of a BGF army. Army not ethnic salary the activities. need for has style. to BGF. serving armed from assisting and use 326 tothe It BGF. the in Progress So far the major groups to have transformed into Border Guard forces and People Militia Forces are: NDA-K, KNPLF, MNDAA, Lahu Militia group, DKBA, KDA, battalions from SSA-N and SSA-S as well as splinter groups from other major groups. Border Guard Force****Each battalion of the Border Guard Forces (BGF) has 326 soldiers, including 18 officers and 3 commanders (one from the Tatmadaw). BGFs are only deployed within its territory and paid the same salary as normal soldiers. # BGF Controlled area Commander 4 / 9
1 No. 1001 Gant Gwan and Chi PhweMaj. Deltan Khaung Lum 2 No. 1002 Lupi, Chi Phwe and Pang Maj. WahLanjaw Saung Taint 3 No. 1003 Sin Kyaing and Kan Pai Tee Maj. Wamthe Dai Khaun 4 No. 1004 Pan-tain and Loikaw Maj. Ree Samar 5 No. 1005 Sop-pai and Loikaw Maj. Se Moenel 6 No. 1006 Lauk-kai Maj. Yang Xao Kying 7 No. 1007 Ponpa-kyin and Mong TonMaj. Japi Kwe 8 No. 1008 Mong Yu and Mong Yawng30 Mar 2010 9 No. 1009 Tachilek Maj. Sai Aung 10 No. 1010 Makman- Kengtung Unknown 11 No. 1011 Pantawmi Hlaing bwe Unknown 12 No. 1012 Kyonhtaw- Hlaing Bwe Maj. Saw Beh 5 / 9
13 No. 1013 Kataihte - Phapun Maj. Saw Hla Kyaing 14 No. 1014 Tanta-Oo and Pha pun Unknown 15 No. 1015 Paikyon Hlaing bwe Maj. Saw Win Naing Sein 16 No. 1016 Dawlan Hlaing bwe Maj. Saw Myat Khaing 17 No. 1017 Maepalae - Myawaddy Unknown 18 No. 1018 Shwe Kokko MyawaddyMaj. Saw Maung Win 19 No. 1019 Taw-Oak and Myawaddy Maj. Saw Lik Theint 20 No. 1020 Htiwakalay Myawaddy Maj. San Lin 21 No. 1021 Hteehuthan and Kaw kareik Maj. Saw Beelu 22 No. 1022 Atwin-kwin-kalay and Myawaddy Unknown 23 No. 1023 Kyeikdon and Kya-Inn-Seik-gyi Maj. Saw Eh Htoo 6 / 9
People's Militia Group***Each People's Militia Group has less than 100 members and is under the control of the Tatmadaw. # Name Controlled area Commander 1 Lawayang militia group Gwe-htu, Lawayang, Wine Col. maw La San Awng Wah 2 Rawan militia group Khaung Lan hpu (Puta-O)Tan Ku Tan 3 Kaung-kha (1) Kaung-kha, Kotkai Unknown 4 Kaung-Kha (2) Loi-khan, Kotkai (kut khai)unknown 5 Kaung-kha (3) Hophyat, Kotkai Unknown 6 Kaung-kha (4) Loi Tauk, Kotkai Unknown 7 Kaung-kha (5) Manglin, Kotkai Unknown 8 Sein-kyauk (1) Sein-kyauk, Thipaw (hsipaw) - 9 Sein-kyauk (2) Sein-Kyauk, Thipaw - 10 Mong-khay Mong-khay, Thipaw - 7 / 9
11 Kali Kali, Kun Hein - 12 Want-pan Want-pan, Laikha - 13 Nar-pwe Nar-pwe, Nam San - 14 Tarlawgyi Tarlawgyi and Sinbo areau San Wei Regional People s Militia group and Anti-insurgency group***each group has less than 100 members and is under the control of Tatmadaw. # Name Area/region Leader 1 Mann-pan group Mann-pan, Tang-yang Sai Moon, Khun Hla (form 2 Mong-hin, Mong-ha Tang-yang Lao Mar 3 Naung Mo (Narkaw village Tang-yang group) Yar BuKbr Lahu area 4 Mong Kaung Tang-yang Police officer Saw Lu 5 Nar Kaw Tang-yang Police officer Lao Tar 6 Mong Yu Muse - 7 Kyu-kok Kyu-kok - 8 Mong-Koe Mong-koe Naw Kham 9 Mong-Paw Mong-koe Gam Mai 10 Shou Haw Mong-koe Hla Myint 8 / 9
11 Lon Khan Muse - 12 Pan-Seinn Muse - 13 Special Militia group Kot-kai Te Khun Myat elected MP in the 2010 election; many criticize him for his involvement in drug trading and taxation. 14 Phong-hsai Kot-kai Kyi Khun Swe 15 Special Ranger militia group Kot-kai - 16 Special militia group Kot-kai Police officer Zaw Aung 17 Ta-moe-nye Kot-kai Myint Lwin (a) Wamkawt 18 Pang-say Nam Kham Kyaw Myint elected MP in the 2010 election; many criticize him for his involvement in drug trading and taxation. 19 Lon Htan Lauk Kai - Kokang area 20 Nam-matu Nam-matu - 21 Mann Ton Mann Ton U Than Nyan (former PS Palaung area 9 / 9